A new year, a fresh start, a time to declutter? Perhaps now, with more time at home, could be a time to look at your home and work out whether you need ALL these things in your drawers and cabinets and see if you can form new, greater habits this year?
A good place to start is the kitchen. We’ve highlighted some great tips on where to start from Zero Waste guru, Bea Johnson. So get started and be ready to feel liberated from ‘stuff’, while looking after the planet!
Bea Johnson’s kitchen (from ZeroWasteHome.com)
DISPOSABLES: Aim to minimize your disposables like paper towels, foil and plastic plates, cups etc. Instead, try using resuable rags, use a kitchen towel for sanwiches and stainless containers.
BULK: Buying in bulk in Singapore is not so easy, but bring your own bags when you buy fruit and veg, bring a jar for meats, delis and cheese that you can buy over the counter and bring a pillowcase for your bread at the bakery.
TAP WATER: Not all Singapore water tastes great, but drinking it won’t harm you, so either try to learn to love it or get a filter that can minimise the odd taste.
SOAPS: ‘Castile’ soap can be used for both hands and dishes and you can use baking soda to scrub with a compostable cleaning brush. If you can’t find dishwasher detergent in bulk, try buying the bigger containers.
TRASH: Trash is a tough one in Singapore, but use the available recycle options where you live, and try composting.. You can use a tiny compost keeper as a trash can and look online (watch this space) for the best compost methods.
FOOD: Use the leftovers before they go bad – also try to go through your recipes and see if some can help you avoid waste, and get rid of the ones that don’t.
So now you ‘ve been inspired on what habits to change, you can start decluttering your kitchen. Here’s how Bea Johnson and her family have chosen to priorise what’s in their drawers and kitchen cabinets.
SERVICE: Dinner plates, small plates, cups, bowls and flatware for 12 people.
GLASS: 24 wineglasses and tumblers – in that way they can be used for parties, but also cold soups and appeiters.
COOKING: Three sizes of pans and pots, one stockpot, three lids and a teakettle (all stainless)
PREPARING AND SERVING: Three bowls and one platter
BAKING: Two pie dishes, one large casserole dish, one loaf pan, two baking sheets
UTENSILS: Stainless ladle, spoon, spatula, tongs, and whisk, and one wooden spatula
CUTTING:: One paring knife, one chef knife, one serrated knife, one pair of scissors, and one cutting board
ACCESSORIES:: Stainless colander, sieve, grater, steamer, funnel, one set of measuring spoons, a measuring cup, a scale, a bottle opener, a pepper grinder, two pot holders, two trivets
APPLIANCES: : An all-in-one blender, a toaster and a pressure cooker
Feel inspired? Tomorrow you will learn how to do a basic pantry, so you don’t have to shop for new food or eat out og take away every other day.
Get more tips from Bea Johnson, in her book Zero Waste Home and see what she uses instead of a food processor, salad spinner and vegetable peeler!
Also, hear the podcast interview here, watch the video interview with Bea Johnson here and get her basic tips on how to live a Zero Waste lifestyle here
AND check out our own decluttering on Instagram highlight stories
